Infectious diseases are the second leading cause of death worldwide. Apex Physicians Infectious Diseases specialists are on the cutting edge of some of the hottest topics in medicine today—from the growing threat posed by antibiotic resistance, to global health problems such as tuberculosis and malaria, to emerging infections such as Zika virus, pandemic influenza,  Ebola and now the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that triggers the deadly disease Covid-19.

  

We are all aware that infection is a major problem, especially among hospitalized patients, sometimes arriving with infection as a reason for admission and sometimes developing an infection in the hospital. In either case, infection is among the top causes of death in the hospital and hospital-acquired infections affect one in 20 patients. Many of these infections are resistant to antibiotics, making them extremely difficult to treat. What is the answer? Get patients the type of care they deserve – in this case, treatment provided by physicians who are experts in infectious diseases. The doctors at Apex Physicians are specialists in infectious diseases with four years of medical school, three years of training as a doctor of internal medicine, and two years of specialized training in infectious diseases. 

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Apex Physicians are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Our doctors are known as “medical detectives,” as they solve complicated cases by identifying the causes of infection and the most effective treatment. Numerous studies from leading medical journals amplify and provide compelling evidence that our infectious disease expertise is invaluable. 

 

To quantify the value of Apex physicians, we studied the records of patients who had at least one of 11 common types of infections, including Clostridium difficile, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named as one of the top three urgent threats in its landmark antibiotic resistance report.  Other infections included: bacteremia, central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), bacterial endocarditis, HIV/opportunistic infections, meningitis, osteomyelitis, prosthetic joint infections, septic arthritis, septic shock, and vascular device infections. Matching patient characteristics, we compared the outcomes of those who had seen our Infectious Diseases specialists and those who had not.  The results were striking. The study showed hospitalized patients who see our infectious diseases (ID) specialists are not only less likely to die in the hospital and after discharge but stay for shorter periods and are less likely to be readmitted to the hospital. Those benefits are even more pronounced when our ID specialists consult with patients within minutes of admission to the hospital. Consulting early with an ID specialist saves money, too:  Medicare payments were less with early ID intervention.  All these findings are in line with Apex Physicians’ goals of healthcare reform, proving that our ID specialist care can improve patient outcomes while lowering costs. Healthcare-acquired infections are linked to payment penalties and bundled payments, leaving little room for error. The impact of Apex physicians is more critical than ever to ensure high-quality patient care. 

 

We are the detectives of the medical world and have additional years of training and experience to quickly identify and treat life-threatening infections. Let us help your patients and control healthcare costs by putting our expertise to work for you.